Means for resupplying air to water-distributing systems



Feb. 21, 192s.

1,659,710 o. L. SIMPSON MEANS FOR RESUPPLYING AIR TO WATERDISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 21. 192e Cab Patented Feb. 2l, 1928.

iJNiiEnv STATES ORVAL L. SIMPSON, OF LAIAZ, INDIANA.

MEANS FOR RESU'PPLYING AIR TO IVATERfDISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS.

Application :filed December 21, 1926. .Serial No. 156,165.

This invention relates tewater supplying and distributing systems in which the water from a well, cistern orY other source is pumped into a tank by an electrically operated pump and delivered from said tank by yair pressure when an outlet in the service pipe is opened. rIt is well known that. the aii` pressure diminishes and is maintained by supplying air to replace that which is lost usually by passing off with the water when drawn from the tank. t

In accordance with the present vinvention an air pipe is connected with the water pipe through which the water is pumpedinto the tank. A valve controls the admission of air to the air pipe and is normally held closed; however, when the air pressure within the tank is reduced the level of the water therein rises and through a iloat closes av circuit whichellects a release yoie the .said a-ir valve, thereby permitting air being pumped into the tank along with the water being supplied thereto.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment .of the invention it is to be understood rthat .in adapting the means-to meet specific needs and requirements the design may be varied and suchother changes in the ,minor details ofconstruction maybe .resortedto within the scope of the invention V,as claimed, without departing from the v.spirit thereof.v f.

`For a full understanding ofthe invention andthe merits thereof, .reference is to be had to the following description .and the drawings hereto attached, in which,

Figure lis a schematic view illustrative ofan embodimentl of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail of a portion of the valve Vstem and associated parts on ,a larger scale.

k.Figure 3 isa sectional detailof the circuit closing means and -coacting parts onan kenlarged scale. f

rlhe numeral 1 designates a tank for holding a quantity of water of a distributing system fordwellings and 2 designatesa pipe whereby water is supplied to the tank 1 from a suitable source .by means oa pump, r.preferably Aelectrically operated.. An air fp ipe 3 .is coupled to vthe water pipe .2 and h 4 designates a valve :for controlling the supply of air to the pipeB. Under-normal conditions kthe valve .4 vis closed and is :heldl shut by Ameans of a lock device yvwhich lengages thelower end lof a sleeve 6'* lmounted on the stem 6 of the valve 4. The sleeve is threadedon the stem 6 and is held inthe required adjusted position by vmeans of a nut 6*? on the upper end of the stem 6. The stem 6 and sleeve 6L are mounted in aguide tube 'capplied to parts of a ramei9 which is slotted in aside at 6d to receive vthe end of the lock 5. A'spring 7 functions to normallyl hold the valve 4l closed. A flanged collar 8 is threaded into a portion of the Jframe 9 and isformed :with a seatagainst which the valve 4 closes by an upward movement. The lock device 5 lconsists of a bolt which is inclined upwardly at its active end so as to automatically compensateor any wear between the valve l and its seat, whereby to secure the valve when seated. The lock bolt 5 is pivoted at one end to an `enlargement of a lever 10 to whichis fitted an armature 11 to be attracted by .the core of an electro-magnet 12 when the latter is energized. The.electro-.magnet 12 is adjustable yvertically by means of va screw 13 mounted in an upper cross-piece ofthe frame 9 .and

Vhaving screw thread .connection with the electro-magnet. A spring 14 mounted upon the screw 13 exerts a `downward pressure upon the ,electro-magnet 12 and holds the same at4 its .lowest position when the `screw 18 is backed.

The frame 9 is coupled by means of aiinion 15 to a short length of vpipe ,16 threaded into the top of the tank 1, and its lower y end has a depending neck portion in which is formed an opening to register with the ,opening ofthe pipe 16. A plug 17 of vinsulating material is secured within the upper contracted portion of anopening 18 formed in the lower portion of the frame 9. vThe plug 17 .is retained in place by means of a hollow nut 19, the hollow side of the V-nut facing the plug, and .receiving contacts -20 which are Vfitted to said plug. A hollow kContact 21 is provided to co-operate with `the contacts 20 and is loosely mounted in the nut 19, .and receives the upper end of astem ,pass between the contacts v20 and make electrical connection therewith, whereby to Iclose the circuit including the electro-magnet 12, which, when energized, attracts the ,armature 1-1 and moves the lever 1() Vto with= draw the lock 5 from the stem of the valve 4, which opens on the next suction stroke of the pump to supply air to the pipe 3 to bek forced into the tank 1 along with the water pumped therein. The stem comprises an outer section 24 and an inner section 25, the two-sections having a screw-thread connection to admit of lengthening` and shortening lof the stem. A stop collar 26 threaded upon the outer section 24 ,limits the downward movementvof the stem and contact 21 by engaging the guide 22.

The guide 22 consists of a plate which is Y vconfined between an inner shoulder of the pipe 16 and the end of a guard 27 threaded into the lower end of the pipe 16. The

Aguard 27 consists of a Shell which extends and down the contact 21 receives a corresponding movement and when the airpressure within the tank decreases,-the level of the water rises and the float 28'correspondingly moves upwardly, thereby bringing the Contact 21 into engagement with the contacts20, whereby to close the circuit through the winding of the electro-magnet 12 which, becoming energized, attracts the armature 11 and'releases the valve 4, which automati cally opens on the suction ystroke of the pump to admit air into the pipe 3, the air thus drawn into the pipe 2 with the water being forced into the tank and replacing the air withdrawn and restoring the pressure.Y

As the air pressure increases within the tank 1 the level of the water lowers, thereby permitting theV float 28 t0 descend and withdrawing the contact 21 from engagement with the contacts 2O and breaking the circuit through the electro-magnet 12. When the electro-magnet becomes cle-energized the armature 11 is released and thelong. arm,

of the lever 10 is drawn downward by means of a spring 30, the tension of which is regulated by means of a screw 31 in a manner well understood. A screw 32 threaded into a portion of the frame 9 limits the upward movement of the long arm of the lever 10, thereby preventing contact between the armature and the core of the electro-magnet which is ressential to prevent the sticking thereof. A housing 33 encloses the frame 9,

it being understood that provision is had for admission of air to be drawn into the pipe 3'when the valve 4 is unseated. The guard 27 prevents any waves of the water within the tank 1 from affecting the float 28. The

spring 23 between the contact 21 and the :tioat stem 24 admits of a positive connection between the contacts and obviates an intermittent lmake and break of the circuit by any fluctuations of the float due to undulations of the waterwithin the tank. The spring 23 forms a positive connection between the parts 21 and 24 to cause the contact 21 to move downwardly with .the stem v24 and clear the contacts 20. Jamb nuts 34 mounted on the stem 6 provide for maintaining the tension ofthe spring 9 which holds the valve 4 seated.

The service pipe is designated generally by the numeral 35 and is connected to the tank 1 at a determinatepoint below the level of the water therein, so that when an outlet is opened water will flow therefrom by reason of the pressure exerted upon' the water by the air confined inthe upper portion of the tank. The pipe 2 connected with lthe source of water supply is provided with a. valve 36 to retain thewater eleva-ted by the pump and preventlosS from the tank 1. A pipe 37 -connects the pipe 2 with the tank 1. Under normal conditions, that is, when the l level of the water in the tank 1 is ata pre determined point, operation ofthe pump l simply supplied water to replace that drawn from the tank 1. However7 when the level of the waterv in the tank 1V rises, due to loss of air in the upper portion of the tank, the w fioat 28 ascends, closes the circuit through the electromagnet 12 and effects a release of the valve 4, so that on the next and succeeding suction strikes of the pump both airand water are drawn into the pipe .2 and are forced therefrom into the:p ipe 3 7 .and tank 1 on the compression stroke'of thepump.

lAs the level of the water in the tank 1 lowers the float 28 descends, thereby vbreaking the circuit through the electromagnet and releasing the lock 5 which comes into playto pre vent opening of the air valve 4. In consequence water only is pumped into the tank 1 to supply thatv drawn therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: Y

1. In a Water distributing system, the combination of a pressure tank, a pump, apipe for supplying water to the tank, an air pipe connected with the water supplying pipe, a valve for controlling the supply of air to the system and adapted to unseat automatically upon the suction stroke of the pump, a lock for holding the said valve seated under normal conditions, and means for automatically releasing the said valve and actuated by a rise of the level of the water in the pressure tank, due to a loss ofpressure, which is automatically restored with thewater supplied l to the tank.

' 2. lna water Vdistributing system, the combination with a. pressure tank, a pump, a

4,pipe for supplying water to the tank, and

an air pipe connected With the Water supplying pipe, of a valve for controlling the supply of air to the system, and adapted to open automatically on the suction stroke of the pump, locking means for normally holding the air valve seated, electrically operated means for releasing the said lock means, and

float controlled circuit closing means adapted to be actuated by the change of level of the water in the tank due toa diminished pressure. v K' 3. In a water distributing system,.the combination with a pressure tank, a water supplying pipe, an air pipe connected with the water supplying pipe, and avalve for controlling the supply of air to the system, of a lock bolt for holding thev air valve seated under normal conditions andA movable in al path at an upward and outward inclination to the path of movement of the air valve, electrically operated means for releasing the llock bolt, and float controlled circuit closing means adapted to be actuated by the change of level of the water within the pressure tank.

4. In a water distributing system, the combination with a pressure tank, a water sup-V plying pipe, an air pipe connected thereto and a valve for controlling the supply of air to the system, of locking means fornormally holding the valve seated, electrically operated means for releasing the lock means, spaced contacts included in the circuit, a movable contact for closing the circuit, a float actuated by the change of level of the water Within the pressure tank, and connect-- ing means between the iioatl and the movable contact including a yieldable element to -advmitof the circuit being maintained in closed position and not affected by any fluctuations of the float.

5. The combination witlrthe pressure of a water distributing system,fa water supplying pipe, an air pipe connected to the water supplying pipe, and a valve for controlling the supply of air to the system, ot an adjustable stem for the valve, a lock bolt adapted to engage the said stem andV normally hold the air valve seated, electrically operated means for releasing the lock bolt, fixed contacts in the circuit of the electric-ally operated means,

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